Wednesday, October 3, 2007

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The Defence evidence presentation process at the trial of Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic before the Bosnian State Court will not get underway until further notice.

The Trial Chamber sitting in the case of Zdravko Mihaljevic, charged with crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Kiseljak in 1993,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia, has decided to postpone the continuation of the trial because Croatian war criminal has again failed to appear at the hearing.

This means that the Defence's evidence presentation process has also been postponed.The Bosnian State Court Police have not yet apprehended Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic although a warrant was issued by the Trial Chamber because "a medical doctor determined that Mihaljevic is not capable of following the trial".

As indicated by his defence attorney, Croatian war criminal's health has deteriorated due to the hunger strike but he refuses to get medical assistance.

Attorney Dusko Tomic has "asked the Trial Chamber to issue an order for Mihaljevic to get medical treatment". He has also said that he is not going to attend the hearings without his client.

The indictment charges Croatian war criminal Mihaljevic with having participated in torture, forcible disappearance and murder of Bosnian civilians from Tulice village in Kiseljak municipality,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia in the early 90's.

The trial of Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic is due to continue on 8 October.